Belarus scored three goals in the second period and defeated the United States 5-2 on Thursday in a Group B preliminary-round game at the 2015 IIHF World Championship played at CEZ Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Artur Gavrus, Artem Volkov and Alexander Kitarov scored in a span of 4:55 midway through the second period. Alexei Kalyuzhny scored two goals in the third period, and goaltender Kevin Lalande made 28 saves.

"They came after us early but Lalande made some timely saves," Belarus coach Dave Lewis told the IIHF website. "We did not settle into the game until the second period."

Brock Nelson (New York Islanders) and Torey Krug (Boston Bruins) scored for the United States, and Jack Eichel, NHL Central Scouting's No. 2-ranked North American skater for the 2015 NHL Draft, had two assists. Goaltender Jack Campbell (Dallas Stars) made 18 saves.

Canada overcame a three-goal deficit and defeated Sweden 6-4 on Wednesday in a Group A preliminary-round game at the 2015 IIHF World Championship at 02 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.

Forward Tyler Ennis (Buffalo Sabres) scored a power-play goal with 6:29 remaining to give undefeated Canada its first lead, 5-4. Forward Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) scored an empty-net goal with 1:50 left.

"We had a big wakeup call in the first," Seguin said, according to the IIHF website. "We went to the dressing room and talked before the second [period]. A lot of guys were saying we can do better. We can score goals. We can be better at defending. We put it all together and came away with three points."

Forward Marian Gaborik scored twice in the third period to lead unbeaten Slovakia to a 3-1 win against Slovenia on Tuesday in a Group B preliminary-round game at the 2015 IIHF World Championship at CEZ Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Slovenia led 1-0 after the first period on forward Jan Urbas' power-play goal. Defenseman Andrej Meszaros (Buffalo Sabres) tied the game at 7:57 of the third period with a power-play goal, and Gaborik (Los Angeles Kings) put Slovakia ahead when he scored with 5:44 remaining in regulation.

Gaborik scored an empty-net goal with one second remaining.

"We're playing with fire in these games, but we know we'll have to play better because there's another great opponent waiting for us tomorrow," Meszaros said, according to the IIHF website. "But our guys deserve kudos for the way we kept doing the right thing."

Edmonton Oilers teammates Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle each had a goal and an assist, and Arizona Coyotes goalie Mike Smith made 22 saves Monday to lead Canada to a 6-3 win against host Czech Republic in the preliminary round of the 2015 IIHF World Championship at O2 Arena in Prague.

Tyler Toffoli (Los Angeles Kings) also had a goal and an assist, and Sean Couturier (Philadelphia Flyers), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) had the other goals as Canada (3-0-0-0) remained unbeaten in Group A with nine points.

Couturier scored the go-ahead goal with 2:20 left in the second period, tipping in a Toffoli shot to give Canada a 3-2 lead.\

The United States received goals from four different players and goaltender Jack Campbell (Dallas Stars) made 15 saves in a 4-2 victory Monday against Russia in preliminary-round action of the 2015 IIHF World Championship at CEZ Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Forwards Trevor Lewis (Los Angeles Kings), Mark Arcobello (Arizona Coyotes) and Brock Nelson (New York Islanders) and defenseman Tory Krug (Boston Bruins) scored for the United States (3-0-0-0), which is off to its best start at the tournament since 1997. The United States, which has outscored its opponents 11-4 in three games, leads Group B with nine points. Russia, which lost for the first time in three games, is in second place with six points.

Arcobello's goal 11:52 into the third period gave the United States a 3-1 lead. After Jimmy Vesey (Nashville Predators) stole the puck in the neutral zone, Arcobello got it, moved into the left circle and took a wrist shot that beat Russia goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets) inside the near post.

Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers) had a hat trick, 14 Canadian players had at least one point and Group A leader Canada defeated Germany 10-0 on Sunday at the 2015 IIHF World Championship at 02 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.

Forward Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche) had a goal and three assists for Canada. Martin Jones (Los Angeles Kings) made 17 saves for the shutout.

Captain Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) gave Canada a 1-0 lead 8:25 into the first period, triggering a four-goal outburst in a span of 11:47. Crosby's goal was followed by Hall's first and two goals from Cody Eakin (Dallas Stars).

Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) made 22 saves and Brock Nelson (New York Islanders) had the game-winning goal in the second period as the United States won for the second time in as many days at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, defeating Norway 2-1 at CEZ Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Trevor Lewis (Los Angeles Kings) had the other U.S. goal, answering the opening goal of the game by Norway's Morten Ask.

"They jumped on us early," U.S. forward Jack Eichel, expected to be one of the top-two picks in the 2015 NHL Draft, told the IIHF website. "We knew it would be a tight checking game. It was a little more physical and chippy. They had some guys with some big open ice hits. It was a defensive battle."

Forward Matt Hendricks (Edmonton Oilers) scored two goals and the United States defeated Finland 5-1 in its opening game at the 2015 IIHF World Championship at CEZ Arena in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Winnipeg Jets goalie prospect Connor Hellebuyck had 29 saves for the United States

"Connor made a lot of key saves for us to keep the game where it was and later we capitalized on our chances," Hendricks told the IIHF website.

"It was a really fun game and I thought the whole team played well," Hellebuyck said. "[Finland] had a lot of good power plays. They really move the puck well so I had to be ready for that. They're a good team."

Forward Jason Spezza (Dallas Stars) scored two goals and had an assist as Canada defeated Latvia 6-1 in its opening game at the 2015 IIHF World Championship at O2 Arena in Prague.

Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) scored to give Canada a 1-0 lead at 9:57 of the first period; Spezza assisted on the play.

Spezza scored his first of the game at 13:04 of the first period. Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche) gave Canada a 3-0 lead at 14:11 of the first period.

Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Hendricks was named Thursday as captain of the United States for the IIHF World Championship in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic.

USA Hockey said Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk and Los Angeles Kings forward Trevor Lewis will serve as alternate captains.

Hendricks, 33, had eight goals, 16 points and 76 penalty minutes in 71 games for the Oilers.